Joined-up bid to aid families in Arun with problems

They will be among 275 families in Arun district to be taken under the wing of the Think Family programme, which provides support and early intervention for those who are most vulnerable.

It will be targeted on areas such as Littlehampton’s Ham and River wards and the Allangate estate in Rustington, with the goal of improving school attendance, cutting crime, helping adults back into work and reducing the need for agencies to become heavily involved in cases.

Arun District Council has committed itself to the project, working with partners including West Sussex County Council, which is leading the scheme, and the police, in what is described as a “holistic” approach. Up to £4,000 will be shared among the partners for each family supported over the next two years.

There will be a particular focus on families with children aged under five, in the hope that problems can be nipped in the bud, and on promoting benefits for the wider community as well as among families themselves.

Government research has shown that such family intervention reduces anti-social behaviour by 59 per cent, cuts involvement in crime by 45 per cent and results in a 52 per cent drop in truancy, exclusion and bad behaviour at school.

Councillor Paul Wotherspoon, Arun cabinet member for community development, said: “This programme will help break the cycle caused by inter-related problems, addressing issues at the root cause and supporting families so that they can cope better, reducing the need for intervention from agencies in the long term.”

Partners in the programme recognise that, as families with problems live in neighbourhoods, alongside others, making changes to local services and the environment may be needed to help address issues such as anti-social behaviour and truancy, to bring about benefits for the community as a whole.

The Think Family initiative will complement the work of existing anti-social behaviour and family intervention programmes, and families who have problems caused by domestic abuse, mental health issues or substance and alcohol abuse will also receive assistance.